Mechanism for handling tuft-yarns for carpet-looms.



A. CLAPPERTON.

MECHANISM FOR HANDLING TUFT YARNS FOR CARPET LOOMS.

i APPLICATION FILED APR- 26, 1910- RENEWED DEC- 29. 1916- 1,235,654.

Patented'Aug. 7,1917.

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ALEXANDER CLAPPEB'ION, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN WARP DRAWING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

mncnsmsm son HANDLING TUFT-YARNS FOR CARPET-LOOMS.

Application filed. April 26, 1910, Serial No. 557,706.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CLArPnR- TON, a citizen of the United States, resldlng at Yonkers, in the county of :Westchester and State of New York, have lnvented an Improvement in Mechanism for Handling I Tuft-Yarns for Carpet-Looms, of which the following description, inconnectlon with the accompanying drawings, 1s a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts. I

This invention relates to mechanlsm for handling tuft yarns for carpet looms.

In order that the principle thereof maybe readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof 1n the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a yarn tufting mechamsm embodying my invention; V

Fig. 2 is a detail in vertical sectlon representing one manner of controlling the reciprocatony movements of the yarn tube carriage;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portlon of the clamp preferably used in the practice of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a detail in vertlcal seotlon taken through the yarn tube carriage and clamp;

Fig. 5 is a detail representing theshlfted or shogged position of the clamp w1th reference to the needles;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation partially in vertical section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a sllghtly modified form of mechanism embodying my invention; and r Fig. 8 is a plan view, partially broken away, of such modified form of my invention.

My invention comprehends an improved apparatus for drawing tuft yarns into and tube frame employed to place such yarns .in the sheds formed by the warps of a loom during the weaving process.

Referring more particularly to that form v of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the base or support for the mechanism 1s repre- Speciflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1917. Renewed December 29, 1916'. Serial No. 139,705.

sented at 1, it being provided with a suitable number of guide rails,,one of which is indicated at 2. Preferably two uide rails are employed, one at each side 0 the apparatus. In the present embodiment of -my invention I employ a number of tubes or carriers corresponding to the number of tuft yarns to be drawn, and as hereinshown I employ one half as many needles as tubes,

it being evident, however, that any suitable number of needles may be used. A relative longitudinal movement is imparted to the needles and tubes, and herein I have represented the tubes as reciprocated. and the needles as stationary. The needles are represented at 3 in Figs. 4 and 6 and are therein shown as horizontally supported upon a suitable bed 4: preferably fixedly secured to the base. The needles may have the usual hooked ends 5. Supported upon and movable longitudinally along guide rails 2 is a tube carriage 6 having mounted thereon a' suitable number of tubes or carriers 7 of any sultable construction.

In order to provide for the to and fro movement of the tube carriage with respect to the needles 3, I have in this type of my invention represented the rails 2 as suitably grooved. In Fig. 1, I have shown one of the rails as provided in its upper face with a groove 8, which for a portion of its length has'a-longitudinal tongue 9, thus dividing such portlon of the groove into parallel grooves 10, the point 12.

Rising from the carriage 6 are uprights 13 supporting the yarnbeam 14 carrying the usual yarns 15. Preferably these yarns are leased or divided into a plurality of and preferably two sheds, and are so supported as to permit the drawing of the yarns into 11, the tongue terminating at the tubes in the desired order.

Herein I have represented the yarns 15 as divided into two sheds or banks 16, 17, and have shown a suitable clamp receiving the-yarn ends. While this clamp may be of any suitable construction, it is here shown "as composed of two outer bars 1818 and an intermediate and preferably grooved bar 19, the yarns 16 and 17 being clamped in position between said bars with suitable pressure. If desired, one of the outer bars may be removed from clamping position after the. yarns pertaining thereto have been seized by the needles 3 so as to permit the yarns to be drawn through the tubes, or if preferred the clamping members may hold the yarns so loosely as to permit the yarn ends to be drawn from the clam upon return movement of the needles. 0 this latter end, one or more of these bars may be faced with textile or other suitable material, providing a yielding grip for the yarns.

The yarn tubes or carriers 7 are removably positioned upon the carriage 6 and may be suitably held or supported in operative position with respect to the needles. To that end,- I have, in Figs. 1 and 6, represented a horizontally positioned bar 20 having therein cam slots 21 receiving pins or ,screws 22, by which said bar is supported upon the uprights 13 over the tubes or carriers 7. When the bar is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, its lower and preferably smooth edge rests upon thetubes or carriers and holds them in position. When, however, it is moved toward the right, viewing Fig. 1, it is elevated therefrom so as to permit the removal or further adjustment of said tubes or carriers.

The yarn beam 14 is mounted in a suitable support, herein shown as sockets 24 receiving the heads of said beam, said sockets each having preferably pivoted thereto a jaw 25 held in frictional engagement with the adjacent flange of the yarn beam by coil spring 26. Any suitable type of beam support may, however, be employed.

The beam support, whatever the type used, is preferably tensioned so as to permit the same to yield slightly toward the needles and tubes, and to return to normal position when the strain upon the yarns ceases. To this end, each socket is pivoted as at 27 upon the uprights 13 and springs 28, and straps 29 connect said uprights and sockets so as normally to maintain the yarn beam in its more remote position with respect to the needles but permitting it to yield as an entirety when the needles and tubes are operated to thread the latter. I preferably provide set screw 29' constituting adjustable stops limiting the return movement of said sockets 24.

I have herein represented the tube carriage 6 as provided with tongues 30 received in the grooves 8 of the guiding rails. These tongues 30 are of such thickness as to permit them to slide in either groove 10 or 11, as-

most clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as in this type of my invention there are one half as many needles as yarn tubes, the needles and tubes are so positioned that the needles are in alinement with alternate tubes as well as with either the yarns nesaeee 16 or the yarns l7.- Assuming that the yarns 16 are first to be drawn throu h the tubes or carriers 7, the carriage 6 is s id to the left, v1ew1ng. Fig. 1, until the tongues 30 thereof may be slid into the grooves 11 of the rail gu1des2. This brings the needles 3 into al nement with alternate yarn tubes and w1th the shed of yarns 16. In other words the alternate yarn tubes referred to constitute a set or plurality in substantial alinement with which one of the yarn sheds is held clamped while the other yarn shed is the tube carriage is moved to the left, viewing Fig. 6, this being accomplished by hand, to which end the carriage is provided with suitable handles 31. When by movement of the carriage, the yarns and needles are brought into substantially the relation indicated in Fig.- 4, the clamp members 18, 19 are" slid by hand to the right or to the left, so as partially to envelop the needles by the yarns and bring the yarns and needles int substantially the relation indicated in, Fig. 5. This insures the engagement of the yarns by the books 5 of the needles when the latter are withdrawn through the tubes upon the return movement of the carriage 6.

If desired, I may provide suitable means the needles in their proper position. To this end, I have shown a horizontal plate 32 having a notched, down turned, flange 33 engaging the needles, the said plate being supported from preferably a plurality of rods 34 mounted in brackets 35, 36 carried by said plate 32 and the member 4. I may employ two rods, one adjacent each side of the mechanism. Encircling each rod is a spring 37. Each rod 34 passes loosely through its bracket 36 and is headed at 38 exteriorly thereof. The springs 37 normally project the rods to the right as indicated in Fig. 6, and hence yieldingly project the needle positioning plate 32. Upon movement of the tube'carriage 6 toward the left, viewing said figure, the plate 32 is moved toward the left by the carriage, thereby compressing the springs 37 and projecting the rodsthrough said brackets 36. When the yarn tube carriage is moved toward the right, viewing said figure, the plate 32 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 6.

After one shed of yarns, which may be either the yarns 16 or 17, has been threaded through the proper yarn tubes 7, the carriage 6 is again reciprocated so that the yarns Pfof the remaining shed are drawn throu h the remaining tubes. Upon such secon reciprocation, the tongues 30 of the tube carriage 6 are slid in the grooves 10, thus bringing the needles into alinement with the remaining half of the tubes through which the yarns had not previously been drawn. It is apparent that a different length of stroke is imparted to the carriage for drawing the two sheds of'yarns, .and to this end suitable stops may be provided to limit the differential movements of the carriage. In this .embodiment of my invention, the carriage is reciprocated by hand and the clamp is, similarly, slid transversely of the carriage by hand. I

In the event that a less number of needles than tubes or carriers is used, I may aline the needles with those in which the tuft yarns are to be drawn by'any singleoperation, by alining movement of the needles rather than of the tubes. In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, I have illustrated one form of means for laterally shifting the tubes with respect to the needles. In Figs. 7 and 8, I illustrate one form of means for moving the needles laterally With respect to the tubes or carriers, in order toaline them with those tubes through which the tuft yarns are next to'be drawn.

It will be understood, however, that any suitable alining means may be employed. In said figures, I have represented substantially the same construction of tube carriage 6 mounted for sliding movement upon the guide rails 2, which, however, are not provided with the divided or tongued grooves, but each with a single groove compelling reciprocatory movement of said carriage always in the same path. The needles 3 are mounted in a preferably notched plate 39 mounted for sliding movement-upon the upper faces of blocks 40, 40 secured to the guide rails 2. Screws 41 passing through elongated slots 42 in the plates 39 maintain the latter in position but permittheir movement to the right or left to aline the needles with the tubes or carriers. Surmounting the needles 3 is a plate-43 secured by screws 44 or otherwise to the plate 39 and holding the needles in position.

Any suitable means.may be provided to move the plate 39 with the needles to the right or left for the purpose stated. Herein I have represented the right hand edge of said plate 39 as beveled rearwardly at 45. With said beveled edge engages the inclined face 46 of a wedge 47 mounted for sliding movement upon the upper face of one of the blocks 40 and guided in such movement by a pin and slot 48 and block 49. Itwill be apparent that the plate 39 and needles 3 are moved to the left viewing Fig. 8 by the wedge 47. To return said plate and needles upon movement of said wedge to the rear, viewing Fig. 8, I preferably provide a spring 50 positioned between the left hand block 40 and a lug or projection 51 upon the under side of the plate 39. It will be understood that if desired positive means may be employed to move the plate 49 in both directions. In order to reciprocate the wedge 47, I may employ any suitable mechanism. Herein for the purpose I have represented a cam disk 52 pivoted at 53 upon one of the side rails 2 and provided with a cam track 54. Co-axial and fast with the cam disk 52 1s a four toothed ratchet 55, with which is adapted to engagea pawl 56 pivotally or otherwise suitably secured upon the carriage 6 and herein represented as adjustable by set screw 57. The cam track 54 is substantially elliptical in shape and receives therein a pm 58 carried by a rod 59, to the opposite end whereof, is pivoted at 60 a lever 61 pivoted at 62 upon the framing and connected by pin and slot 63 to the wedge 47. It w1ll be apparent that upon movement of the carnage 6 toward the right viewing Fig. 7, the pawl 56 will engage the ratchet 55 and turn the cam disk 52 ninety degrees. The contour of the camtrack 54 is such as to thereby compel movement of the rod 59 to the right, viewing said figure, and thereby to move the wedge 47 in the opposite directlon and permit. the spring 50 to force the needles 3 and plate 37 toward the wedge 47 for the purpose stated. A further movement of the cam "disk 52 through a distance of ninety degrees will project the rod 59 in the opposite direction or to the left viewing Fig. 7, and return the wedge 47 to the position shown in Fig. 8, thereby forcing the needles 3 and plate 37 in the opposite direction.

In order to move the cam disk 52 as described, it is merely necessary to slide the yarn carriage 6 by hand a suflicient distance to the right, viewing Fig. 7. NVhen in this manner the cam disk 52 has. been moved a proper distance and the needles have thereby been shifted to the right or left and brought into alinement with the proper tubes or carriers 7, then the carriage 6 is moved. along theguide rails 2 in the opposite direction, in order to compel the needles 3 to'pass through said tubes or carriers and to engage the yarns 16 or 17 as the case may be.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims.

1. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, a tube frame support, threading needles coiiperating therewith, and means to support the tuft yarns in sheds in operative relation to said tubes or carriers and needles.

2. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, a tube frame support, and means to support tuft yarns in sheds adjacent the mouths of said tubes. 1

3. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture including a tube frame support, a plurality of threading needles and a tuft yarn clamp, said clamp and support being to ether relatively movable transversely o the needles.

4. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprisingl tubes or cairriers,a,nd means to clamp t e yarn in sheds adjacent thereto and including the clam ing members 18 and 19'.

5. dechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising. threading needles, a carriage movable toward the needles, yarntubes on said carriage and a manufacture and comprising a clamp memher 19 having opposite grooved edges and clam ing members 18 cooperating therewith.

9. echanism for tubing tu t yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, yarn threading means, and a tuft yarn spool bodily movable toward and from said threading means.

10. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, threading means, a yarn spool support, and spring means permitting the bodily movement of said support toward said threading means.

11. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination a plurality of yarn tubes or carriers, a plurality of threading needles cooperating therewith but less in number than said yarn tubes, means for imparting successive threading movements to said plurality of needles, and means for shifting the relation of the needles and the tubes between successive threadings. I

12. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprislng in combination a plurality of yarn tubes and carriers and a plurality of threading needles cooperating therewith but less in number than said yarn tubes, means to impart a threading movement to the needles, a (1 means to aline the needles with successive groups of said tubes less than the entire number of the latter, whereby said groups are threaded in number to one-half of said tubes, means to impart a threading movement to said plurality of needles, and means to aline the needles first with one half of the tubes and then with the remaining half thereof.

15. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprislng in combination, a plurality of yarn tubes, a plurality of needles less in number than'the entire number of tubes-and means to clamp the tuft yarns in sheds adjacent the mouths of said tubes.

16. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combinationmeans to clamp the tuft yarns in a pair of sheds, one of said sheds having its yarns in substantial alinement with certain predetermined tubes of a tube frame and the other shed havin its yarns transversely out of alinement w1th the same tubes.

17 Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, yarn tubes or carriers, means to position the tuft yarns in a pair of sheds operatively related to said tubes or carriers and threading needles, the tubes or carriers and needles being relatively movable toward each other, and means for efi'ectin alternate, relative threading movements 0 difierent lengths of said tubes and needles.

18. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, threading needles, a carriage, yarn tubes upon said carriage, means upon said carriage to position the yarns in sheds adjacent said tubes, and means whereby said carriage may be moved in different paths toward and from said needles.

19. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprislngin combination, threading needles, tubes or carriers reciprocable with respect to the needles, and means to position the tuft yarns in a plurality of sheds adjacent said tubes or carriers, said tubes or carriers. having threading movements of varying lengths.

'20. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combination, yarn tubes or carriers, threading means therefor, a yielding support for the tuft yarn spool, and means to position the free ends of said yarns in a plurality of sheds.

21. Mechanism for tubin tuft yarns in carpet manufacture comprising in combinathreading means therefor, a yarn spool support bodily yieldingly mounted and a clamp to position the free ends of the tuft yarns in a plurality of sheds.

22. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1n carpet manufacture comprising in comb nation, a support having guide rails, a carnage mounted upon said rails, yarn tubes, and a yarn clamp mounted upon said carriage, and threading means cooperating with said tubes or carriers, said carriage being movabletoward and from said threading means.

23. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1n carpet manufacture comprising in combination, a tube frame support, a series of threading needles having hooked ends, and a tuft yarn clamp to support the arm ad acent said tubes, said clamp and tu es being movable transversely of said needle hooks.

24. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1n carpet manufacture comprising in comblnation a tube frame support, a plural1ty of threading means therefor, sa1d threading means and tube frame support having a movement toward and from each other at one time in one path and at another time in a different path.

25. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1n carpet manufacture comprising in combination a plurality of yarn tubes or carriers, a

plurality of threading means, said tubes or carriers and threading means havlng a movement toward or from each other at one time in one path and at another time 11 a different path, and means for supporting tuft yarns in a plurality of sheds ad acent the tubes or carriers 26. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1n carpet manufacture comprising in combination, tubes or carriers, threadlng needles therefor, fixedly positioned means for supporting the bases of said needles, and positioning means for said needles between sa1d sup ort and their free ends.

2g. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1 n carpet manufacture comprising in combination needles 3 having hooked ends 5, a fixed support 4 for said needles, and a plate 32 engaging said needles between the support 4 and hooked ends 5.

28-. Mechanism for tubing tuft yarns 1n carpet manufacture comprising in combination, a carriage having tubes or carriers mounted thereon, threading needles 3 hav-. ing hooked ends 5, a fixed support 4 for said.

needles, and a yielding guide 32 engaging said needles near their hooked ends.

29. An alining guide or clamp for tuft yarns comprising a main body piece and means to clamp the yarns in engagement with the said body piece and in a plurality of sheets or sheds.

30. An alining clamp for tuft yarns comprising a main body piece adapted to receive the yarns in a plurality of sheets or sheds and separate means to clamp each sheet or shed in engagement with the said body piece. l

3l.'In apparatus for drawing tuft yarns into tub frames, in combination, means to support a tube frame of a given density of tubes per inch, a series of co-acting needles of a less. density per inch, and devices to guide the needles in successive tube drawing ln'movements through successive independ ent series of the tubes.

into tube frames, in combination, devices to support tuft yarns in related or independent sheets or sheds, means to support a tube frame of a given density of tubes per inch, a series of co-acting needles of a less density per inch, and devices-to guide the said 00- acting needles in successive drawing-in movements through successiveindependent series of the tubes whereby successive sheets or sheds of threads ar drawn in through said tube frame at successive needle opera tions.

34. In ai pparatus for drawing tuft yarns into tube rames, in combination, devices to support tuft yarns in related or independent sheets or sheds, means to support a tube frame of a given density of tubes per inch, a series of co-acting needles of a less density per inch, and devices to guide the said coacting needles in successive drawing-in movements through successive independent series of the tubes whereby successive sheets or sheds of threads are drawn in through said tube frame at successive needle operations, the said tuft yarn supporting devices being mounted to permit movement trans-- verse of the needles to cause an engagement of the latter with the respective yarns.

35. In an apparatus for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture, the combination with a fixed series of needles, of a tube frame support, means for moving the tube frame su' port toward the needles, and guiding or aining means for the forward ends of the needles adapted to retract with the advancement of the tube frame support.

36. In an apparatus for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture, the combination with a fixed series of needles of a tube frame support movable toward and from the needles and guiding and alining means for the needles. v

37. In an apparatus for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture the combination with a fixed series of needles of a tube frame sup:

port movable toward and from the needles.

38. In an apparatus for tubing tuft yarns in carpet manufacture, the combination with a clamp for holding said yarns in a plurality of sheds, of means for tubing the respective sheds in succession.

39. In an apparatus for tubing tuft yarns the combination with a clamp adapted to clamp the yarns in a plurality of sheds, of

a tube frame. support and threading means messes adapted to engage and tube first the yarns of one shed and subsequently the ,yarns of the other shed.

.In testimony whereof, I have signed my 15 name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER OLAPPERTON. 

